In a recently published editorial, Racine Journal Times is accusing Wisconsin Democratic Governor Tony Evers of fuelling the flames of rebellion in Kenosha by issuing an "outrageous statement" on the same day Jacob Blake was shot by police. Blake, a Black man was shot multiple times by a Wisconsin police officer on Sunday.
Located in a city 10 miles north of Kenosha, the paper cited Ever's earlier statement that touted Blake as another Black man or person to have been shot, injured, or mercilessly killed at the hands of people in the law enforcement in Wisconsin or the United States. The Journal Times wrote noted that his statement developed into taking sides in an unstable situation that should pass through courts and a jury.
Evers said in his statement that he stands with demonstrators that are demanding justice, equality, and Black lives in America. He cited the murder of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Sylville Smith, Earnest Lacy, Denise Hamilton, and Tony Robinson.
He went on claiming that they oppose excessive use of force and rapid escalation when a situation involves Black Wisconsinites. The editorial board suggests that Evers wasn't even sure that the Wisconsin National Guard was on its way to Kenosha when he issued the statement, paying no heed to the possibility of the city erupting in violence, Fox News reported.
The paper pointed out that the Guard received the order at 3 a.m. on Monday amid ongoing violence in Kenosha. The guard reached the city at 8 p.m. on Monday when the situation was out of hand as outsiders flooded the city despite a curfew. The paper also noted that the Kenosha County supervisors also admitted that someone mishandled the situation.
The board accused Evers of knowing about the city's situation and the possibility of looting and violence hours earlier, but he did nothing. Rather than trying to handle the situation to avoid any sort of a violent outburst, he Evers threw the city and its police under the bus.
Furthermore, the paper called out the governor for turning down an offer of help from the White House initially. Evers waited until Wednesday afternoon before increasing the state's National Guard contingent and consider Donald Trump's offer.
The board even condemned the governor for issuing a statement that fuelled the fire even before the rioters arrived in the city. It went on to accuse Evers of not responding adequately and putting the safety of a Wisconsin city and its residents in jeopardy. The board advised him to do something immediately.